Street Ethics

In addition to his work as a lawyer, consultant and expert witness, Benjamin Bycel has been a journalist, law school dean, and professor.

His broad experience as a litigator and consultant in the private sector led to his selection as the founding Executive Director of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. In that position, he worked with local, state and federal enforcement offices to investigate and prosecute violations of governmental ethics laws. He was instrumental in drafting, securing passage, and enforcing laws related to political contributions, lobbyist regulations, conflicts of interest, and revolving door rules, as well as other political ethics rules. Today, the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, based in part on Mr. Bycel’s pioneering work, is considered the strongest and most effective ethics agency, at any level, in the country.

As Dean of Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, Mr. Bycel was instrumental in retaining the school's accreditation, raising writing standards, and ensuring graduates were able to secure legal employment.